Miss this guy already

My lifelong friend Jen had this amazing bundle of joy in September and I finally got to meet the little guy!  I am in LOVE with Colton (and the very flattering camera angle!!!)  He is the most adorable baby and it's so amazing to see my friend in the Mommy role!  Although I have to apologize for Colton's obvious obsession with my boobs ;)  I am a very proud Aunt!!!

Congrats to Mrs W (and Mr W) on their exciting news!!!
I'm catching up on blogging this week!  I'm getting back in the saddle with tons of stuff to talk about!

Home and Loving it!!!!

First things first....thanks for all the well wishes.  I am excited to share that I am finally at home and gallbladder free!!!  After waiting all day on Friday (I mean literally all day), I was whisked away to the OR at 9:45pm to have my surgery.  My surgeon was nice enough to come back to the hospital, after having dinner with his family and tucking his kids into bed, to do my surgery so I could finally go home.  He went in to do some exploration to see if anything besides the gallbladder could be the culprit of my pain but all he found was my gallbladder.  I guess a layer of stomach fat had adhered to my gallbladder.  He told the Hubs that this sometimes happens after pregnancies (plus I'm fat too so I guess I was at double risk).  So regardless of my perfectly functioning gallbladder, the layer of fat was irritating it.  So he was nice enough to take it out.  I was discharged on Saturday morning and have been home since.  Today I feel more like a human.  I took a shower and can function a little better.  Sitting straight up in the chair while I type this is a little uncomfortable but I figure a little discomfort is worth it to thank all of you for your prayers!!!  This was quite the experience and my entire family is trying to get back into the swing of things (and I'm trying to get back into the swing of eating. After not eating for a week, it's kinda rough starting to eat again).

Here are the pics I've been trying to upload all week:

Some of my Get Well Goodies (a monkey balloon is missing because Noah took it home one night)

The kiddos having dinner at Mommy's home away from home.  Notice how comfy Emmy made herself

Me, looking like a hot mess, smiling because I've just had pain meds!!!

I will spare you all from seeing my actual stomach.  It's quite the sight.  But if anyone has a good technique to get all the betadine off, I'd love to hear it.  You'd think being a nurse I'd have a good solution but I've always told my patients that it just wears off (which it does) but that answer isn't flying with me since it's my belly that's yellow. 

Another exciting thing yesterday....my friend Jen had her baby!!!  Colton Alexander was born at 5:14pm and is absolutely adorable!!!  I cannot wait to meet him.  I find myself just staring at his cute little face!  I cried when she sent me his picture.  I am so proud of Jen and so happy for her to finally experience motherhood.  She is going to be the best Momma!!!

And to top off the most exciting day ever....my USF Bulls beat Notre Dame!!!  I have never been so proud to be a Bull.  The game wasn't the greatest but they capitalized on ND mistakes, BJ Daniels looked pretty good with his passing game, and they stuck it out through 2 weather delays to hang on and knock off the #16 team in the nation.  You know I was cheering as much as I could!  I even threw on my USF dress over my sweatpants just to be festive for the game! 

Me and the bestie in our USF gear for a game last year

S-O-U-T-H-F-L-O-R-I-D-A
SOUTH FLORIDA
SOUTH FLORIDA
GOOOOOO BULLS!!!!!!

CAB ride!!!

Crazy title, I know.  I'll explain in a few.  This weekend was an exciting one for me.  It was my great friend, Jen's baby shower!  We finally were able to celebrate baby to be, Colton Alexander Brand (aka CAB...his dad thinks that having his initials spell cab will be a great pick up line later in life....)  We packed into the car and headed down south for a weekend full of laughs and fun.  The kiddos are sick so the Hubs stayed home with them.  I hitched a ride with my parents and brother/gf (in my car) and we all went down to be reunited with Jen and her parents (who were my second parents growing up...Jen and I were inseparable so we shared parents). 

I didn't take a bunch of pictures but the ones I did are the important ones.  Her nursery is a jungle theme and so was the shower.  It was held at a beautiful location (the Sundy House for anyone familiar with the Delray Beach area) and she had the most BEAUTIFUL cake I have ever seen.  I mean, it was a masterpiece.  Jen was showered with love, as she should, and I am so honored to have been a part of it! 

Sharon and I ready for the shower

Me and my mom

Me, Jen, and Colton....I have a similar pic from my shower for Noah

I mean honestly....Have you ever seen a more amazing cake?!?!?!

My new BFF!!!!

I just love her!  Last pic before I left for home

I am just so thrilled for Jen and her husband Jeff.  They are going to be the best parents ever.  I am on pins and needles waiting for Colton to arrive! 

I can't hold it in!!!

Jen is PREGNANT!!!! 

I am so excited you'd think I was the one who was pregnant.  This news has made my day, week, month, you get the picture. 

Growing up, Jen and I were BFFs.  Our childhood consisted of constant sleep overs, bad hairstyles, creating home videos that might be the most embarrassing things on the planet, pretty much being sisters.  We always imagined being pregnant at the same time, raising babies together.  She had to move away (tear) and we've reconnected as we've gotten older.  We're both nurses, although she's a lot cooler than me now that she's a Nurse Anesthetist, we're both married, and now we're both Mommies!!!  She was a bridesmaid in my wedding.  She's Noah's Godmother.  She's a forever friend.  My life has been blessed by our friendship and I am so excited for her new bundle of joy!  I am already in love with her baby, even before I saw her sonogram picture.  I can't wait for our kids to meet each other!!!

Anxiously awaiting Noah's arrival



Noah and his Godmother



Noah's Baptism

With Emmy....I love that I have a picture of her holding both kids the same way!!!

Noah just loves his Aunt Jen

Of course all of the embarassing childhood pictures have yet to be scanned into the computer.  John has a stack that will one day grace Facebook and embarrass both of us and when that day comes, they'll be posted here too.

Jen...I love you and I'm so excited for you and Jeff!  Can't wait to meet the little peanut!!!  Labor Day (ironic, huh?!?) can't come fast enough!!!

~JRC~